FAST-MOVING STORM, FLOODS FORECAST FOR L.A.

Byline: Andrea Cavanaugh Staff Writer

A moist Pacific storm will sweep into the area tonight and drop up to 1 inch of rain on the valleys and up to 4 inches on mountain slopes still soaked from the torrential rains earlier this month, forecasters said.

``This system is moving fast,'' said Stuart Seto, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. ``As the storm increases in intensity, there's the possibility of flooding, but nothing like what we saw two weeks ago.''

However, the storm likely will trigger flash-flood warnings in many areas of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, where many areas received up to 15 inches of rain in a four-day period earlier this month.

That storm contributed to more than a dozen deaths, including 10 people killed in the coastal community of La Conchita when a sodden hillside gave way, burying more than a dozen homes in mud.

A second, weaker storm expected to arrive Thursday night will bring only trace amounts of rain, Seto said. Highs are expected to be in the low- to mid-60s all week, with lows around 50.

Although showers may begin tonight, most of the precipitation will fall during a 12-hour period on Wednesday, Seto said. A 30 percent chance of rain Wednesday night will lead to clearing skies on Thursday, Seto said.

Thursday night, the second storm will push into the area, bringing light rain on Friday, Seto said.

The Southland can expect clear skies after the last storm passes through the region on Friday, Seto said.

``There's a ridge of high pressure coming on Sunday,'' he said. ``There will be a drying-out period after these two storms.''

Andrea Cavanaugh, [phone]

andrea.cavanaugh(at)dailynews.com